Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin says GMHBA Stadium’s unique training workload, combined with rain in the lead-up and on the day of the match, contributed to the muddy conditions during Geelong’s loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
The surface came under fire during and after the game, including from Cats’ veteran Mitch Duncan, who labelled it “probably the worst I’ve ever played on at an AFL game“.
Griffin says the VFL clash between the Cats and Footscray didn’t help the situation.
“A little bit unlucky with the base workload the ground cops, plus we do like the double-headers,” he said.
“But the one risk – and this is a bit like horses running around in the middle of rain – if you cop rain during the actual games, which is what we had in the lead-up to the VFL, and then on the VFL, then between the VFL and AFL, you’re guaranteed to cut it up more than if it was just rain on a ground with no activity on it.
“So, a bit unlucky. But you’ll keep learning, (and) you’ll keep trying to do your best as far as management tactics and training load tactics.”
Griffin says the condition of the ground has already started to improve due to the unseasonal warmth and high winds across today (Tuesday) and yesterday.
However, ground staff will carry out a schedule of works in the lead-up to Geelong’s meeting with Adelaide on Saturday, August 3.
“We’ll be putting the aerator over the ground, (and) we’ll be brooming the mud and the grass, which doesn’t sound that glamorous, but it gets the mud off the turf, so it lifts its head up and re-establishes itself,” Griffin said.
“We’ve got the grow lights over the field. The grow lights not only provide light to get the grass growing but they provide warmth – there’s actually a warmth component to it.
“And because there’s a bit of rain forecast, we’ll actually put the cricket wicket covers over those (affected) parts of the ground.”
Geelong’s AFL, AFLW, and VFL programs will train at alternative venues until late next week when the Cats take to the ground for its Captain’s Run ahead of the clash with the Crows.
“Over this next week to ten days, all three Cats programs will be going to different grounds around the region, just to help us by taking some load off before the Captain’s Runs that will happen before the Crows games next week.
“They’ve been most hopeful in getting some of that workload off the game.”
